Antislipping device



July 25, 1939. F Q, LAWSON 2,166,958

ANTISLIPPING DEVIGE Fivled Nov. 2, 193W Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATET OFFIQE 1 Claim.

'Ihis invention relates to anti-slipping devices and has for its object the provisio-n of a novel, simple and convenient device preferably to be worn on a shoe, boot or overshoe to prevent the wearer from slipping on ice or other slippery surface. The invention aims to provide a device of this kind which can be easily and quickly attached to or detached from shoes or other footwear of men, women or children and which can be easily folded up and carried in a pocket or handbag when not in use.

In general, the invention embodies a single unit having a section provided with sharp spurs adapted to be positioned beneath the f-oot of the l wearer and also having resilient portions or flaps Which can be drawn up over the foot of the wearer and secured together to flrmlyhold the device in positio-n.

The invention is illustrated in certain forms in the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation showing the device applied to a shoe;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of a shoe having the device attached thereto;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device showing the general shape and arrangement of the same and also showing one form of spur construction;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on the line il-l of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale showing the arrangement for forming the spur construction;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section similar to Figure 5 showing a somewhat different form of spur construction; v

Figure 7 is a plan view of a perforated metal plate used to produce the spur construction shown 4g in Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of the device.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device is preferably made up of' an integral strip of 4,1', material having a central portion or area I0 which carries the spurs, and resilient fastening portions or flaps i i by which the device is secured to the foot of the wearer. The device is preferably made of elastic material and in producing .no the saine I prefer to cut or stamp the portions It and II from an integral piece of raw or unvulcanized rubber and in substantially the shape shown, each flap I I having therein an opening I2, preferably elongated as shown, for purposes later pointed out. In the form shown in Figures 6 and 7, a metal plate I3 is applied to the central portion IIJ of the device, this plate having a number of openings I4 punched therein so as to form sharp spurs I5 on the plate adjacent each opening. Other openings It may also be formed in 5 the plate to facilitate securing the same in position. After the plate I3 is applied to the portion II) of the device a thin sheet of unvulcanized rubber, indicated at I'l, is placed over the same and the entire device is then vulcanized with the result that the plate I 3 is iirmly embedded in the device and the sharp points I5 extend beyond one surface of the same. Such vulcanization also gives the desired strength and elasticity to the iiaps II. f

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the spurs may be formed by using a series of sharptacks i8 or the like which are inserted in a piece of canvas iii and the heads of which are covered by a second piece of canvas 2?, a thin layer of raw rubber or rubber material being placed between the canvas pieces, and this assemblage is then applied tothe central portion IU of the device and covered with a section of unvulcanized rubber Il and all the parts then vulcanized together as before described so that the projecting points of the tacks form the spurs.

When vulcanized, the entire device is more or less resilient so that the central portion Iii can be placed beneath the foot and the flaps Il can be drawn or stretched up over the top of the foot and the ends thereof secured together by any suitable form of fastener. Preferably a pair of ordinary snap fasteners 2I is attached to the straps, being inserted through the straps and through patches of canvas 22 vulcanized to the straps.

The openings I2 in the flaps II serve to divide the flaps into two strap portions and when the flaps are drawn up over the foot as described, these strap portions on each side of the shoe will be separated and one of said portions will be positioned in front of and the other in the rear of the usual outward curve or bulge B, Figure 2, on the edge of the ordinary shoe sole and such strap portions will also tend to be located and adjusted on opposite sides of the natural enlargements or joints on each side of the foot. This arrangement thus serves to securely hold the device against forward or rearward movement relative to the shoe and foot of the wearer.

The arrangement shown in Figure 8 is generally the same as that above described, but in this form of device an additional flap Il is provided having therein an opening I2 which is adapted to be slipped over the toe of the shoe and thus provide an additional means for securing this form of device in position.

As will be seen from the foregoing, when the device is applied to the foot the spurs will effectively prevent slipping on ice or other smooth or slippery surface, and the construction is such that the deviceY can be easily and quickly attached to and detached from the foot of the wearer, Being formed of a strip of material the device can be readily folded up when not in use and easilyv Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

An anti-slipping device for shoes comprising an elongated integral strip of elastic exible material 5 having a relatively Wide area thereof intermediate its ends, a metal plate mounted on and vulcanized to said wide area of the strip, said plate having a plurality of sharp spurs formed thereon and extending outwardly beyond the surface of 10 said strip, and an elastic flap extending laterally on each side-'of said wide area, each of said flaps adjacent said wide area having an opening therein whereby each Hap is divided into two separate strap portions, and cooperating fastening means 15 on the outer ends of said strapsv for securing the same together.

FRANS O. LAWSON. 

